Just Make It Better

The funny thing about stuff is that once you’ve gone long enough without acquiring more of it you stop wanting any of it.

Ever since I’ve freed myself from American consumerism, I’ve noticed the feeling of freedom increases with each day. Like any other addiction the more you feed it the more you crave it or the farther you are from it, the more you wonder why you ever needed it. A year ago I would never have guessed the huge release it would bring. My wish list was excessive, as is the majority of Americans, and it was one of the causes of my stress and unhappiness.

Freeing me has changed my life.

When we are consumed by what we don’t have or what we’re looking to attain, it keeps us from acknowledging what is already around us.

It causes self-inflicting burdens such as social status, debt and insecurity. (click on the link to find out why)

The initial withdrawal from consumerism is not easy, but it also happens to be one of the best changes you could make for yourself, the people you love, and your future.
It takes time and can’t be accomplished through one-stop advice. It needs to be implemented and fought every day until you removed the chains and escaped the addiction. And I’m here to be your sponsor.

I challenge YOU, yes you reading this right now, to start a Crap Detox (CD).

Why? Here’s a list of reasons:

1. You’ll get out of debt (easier & faster)
2. You’ll actually stay out of debt
3. You’ll probably lose weight and improve your health
4. You’ll be able to save for your retirement
5. You’ll be better prepared for our current economic climate
6. You’ll actually be showing your children the value of people, not things
7. You’ll appreciate more
8. You’ll find more gratitude and generosity
9. You’ll be happier
10. You’ll be an inspiration to those around you
11. You’ll set your children up for a better financial future
12. You’ll feel more secure
13. You’ll have more self esteem
14. You’ll realize most “rich” people around you are actually insecure people with a lot of credit card debt
15. You’ll take more risk because you’ll have a better hold on your finances
16. You’ll have more confidence & self respect
17. The best things in life are free, remember?
18. You’ll appreciate more of the “stuff” you have and “stuff” you do get
19. You’ll stop with the clutter already
20. You’ll stop fighting with your partner over money
21. You’ll stop spoiling your kids and make them more self reliant
22. You’ll find more joy in life because it won’t come from things
23. You’ll stress less
24. You’ll be able to afford things that really matter to you
25. It’s worth every minute of it

Getting Started:

Depending on your spending habits and expenses this will vary but basically anyone can start this process today.

1. Access your financial situation. If you don’t already have a hold on your finances then you’ll need to outline all your necessary expenses and start differentiating between a need (food) and a want (lobster). With this step you’ll fully grasp how much you consume as a requirement of life and how much of it really just overcompensates as retail therapy.

For more details on this go here, here, here and here.

Read about money and happiness also: here, here, here and here.

The idea isn’t to focus just on extravagant purchases, it’s everything. From that $2.35 pen to the booze you throw down for on Saturday night.

Now, I am NO miser, and I don’t expect you to be either. This isn’t about living without; it’s about living the best life you can, without the weight that comes with the consumerist lifestyle of our culture. It’s about using your money to get you everything you REALLY want, not what you’re made to feel you need to be happy.

It’s about making the “stuff” in your life better; the best it can possibly be.

Here are parts  2, 3, 4 and 5

If you want to go through a Crap Detox with the rest of us, subscribe here for updates and next steps. Hey at least try it; you’ve gotten nothing to lose but crap.

Tweet This Post